Department of Radiology

The main purpose – use of modern , science based radiological methods use for diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Objectives:

1. Seek of optimal modern radiological diagnostic methods intended for identifcication of individual pathological variations. 2. Search and management of new science based diagnostic methods and their application in clinical practice. 3. Presentation of Radiology science innovations and opportunities and implementation in the study process. 4. Continuous improvement of radiological assistance, training for physician radiologists and radiology technologists.

History:

Development of roentgenology-radiology education is associated with the former Kaunas Medical Institute, Department of Roentgenology and radiology, established in 1956. Department chairs were: P. Jašinskas (1956-1972), E.Keleras (1972-1977), L.Gradauskas (1977-1983). Subsequently, the department name and structure was changed many times. In 1983 two small departments merged to form a single unit of Anaesthesiology, Intensive care and Radiology department , lead by A.Lukoševičiūtė (1983-1989 ), the head of Radiology sector was L.Gradauskas . In 1989the Deartment of Roentgenology-radiology started mentoring Oncology course, and was called the Department of Radiology and Oncology. The head of the Department head was Z.Satkevičius, while of the Oncology sector - S. Jarašius . This cathedral unit was active until 1991. During the entire period of existence of the Department there worked many outstanding physicians (as assistant, associate professors) J.Šukytė - Čaikauskienė , A.Sutkus, H.Gintautas , R.D.Bandzaitienė , V.T.Ragaišienė , J.Kiudelis , E.Juozaitytė , A.Basevičius , D.Virvičiūtė - Skorupskienė and others. Specialized diagnostic offices were set up accordingly: 1963 – in Consultative clinic, 1979 – in Neurosurgery block, 1989 – in Endocrinology block. Special contrast medium, functional imaging, ultrasound, interventional techniques, computer tomography were installed and customized and radionuclide diagnostics started to develop. Since 1991 the Department of Radiology is formed. Its leaders accordingly: Dr .V. Stankevičius (1991-1992) , Professor L.Gradauskas (1992-1997), Professor Z.V. Satkevičius (1997-2002) and Professor A. Basevičius (since 2002 till now). Five divisions were formed in current Radiology department - Roentgenology (head - Dr . E.Jonaitienė ), Tomography (head - prof. S.Lukoševičius ), Interventional Radiology (head – Assoc.prof. R. S. Kaupas ), Nuclear Medicine (head - Dr . G. Kuprionis ) and the department of Radiological diagnostics at Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos branch Oncology hospital (head - Dr . I. Gineikienė ). In 2012 a new Radiological Diagnostic Center adapted for clinical diagnostic and pedagogical work , was established, which conducts the most difficult MCT (multislice computed tomography ), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), PET ( Positron Emission Tomography) and other nuclear medicine studies. At present seven specialized sectors are operating in the department - Neuroradiology, Abdominal and pelvic radiology, Thoracic radiology, Musculoskeletal radiology, Soft tissue of the head-neck radiology, Cardiovascular radiology and Special radiology. Now the Department of Radiology employs over 200 people, of who – over 80 physicians and radiologists, specialists of ultrasound, over 40 residents, over 80 radiology technologists and nursing staff. Department of Radiology – the largest radiological diagnostic department in Lithuania with concentrated modern radiological diagnostic equipment - digital x-ray and mammography machines and cabinets , 10 units of ultrasound diagnostical equipment, four CT’s, three magnetic resonance imaging machines, three gamma cameras, angiography and bone densitometry (DXA) devices, the only one in Lithuania – PET (positron emission tomography) machine. Radiological studies are carried out round-the-clock, with the help of non-stop duty of of 2 physician radiologists and two radiology residents posts. If necessary, at any time of the day not only diagnostic but also therapeutic interventional radiology procedures can be performed. Couints of radiological investigations and procedures are constantly growing. In 2012, over 300 thousand conventional radiographic studies, over 30 thousand mammography screening, over 2,5 thousand bone densitometry (DXA) studies, more than 55 thousand ultrasound imaging, over 29 thousand CT studies, over 3,6 thousand MRI studies, over seven thousand nuclear medicine studies (our of which – 300 PET studies), over three thousand interventional radiology diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were performed. Department of Radiology is the only in Lithuania that performes specialized cardiovascular CT (with 320 slice machine) studies, fetal MRI imaging, specialized functional MRI and CT (perfusion imaging) and a number of other studies.

Science and Studies

In 2003 Nuclear Medicine division staff Department of Radiology organized TATENA international courses fo the first time in Kaunas. In 2006 Department of Radiology organized the 1st Baltic Congress of Radiology which took place in Kaunas. The Department is often open to the public from foreign counterparts - the U.S., France, Denmark , Sweden, who are involved in the final residency examinations, defending dissertations and thesis, providing consultatiions and diagnostic assistance. Physicians of the department often attend seminars, conferences, and various term internships in Lithuania and abroad. In recent years, the physicians and residents of the department of Radiology improved their knowledge and mastered new diagnostic techniques in long-term studies (2-6 months of duration) in recognized apprenticeship foreign scientific centers: Geneva (Switzerland ), London (UK) , Turku (Finland), Bologna (Italy), Grenoble (France), Barcelona (Spain), and elsewhere.

Clinical radiology is being studied by students, residents, elaborating physician radiologists, radiology technologists. Department of Radiology approved or renewed training in 27 programs (?), in which physicians of other medical specialties may study and elaborate. Department of Radiology reviewed and endorsed new Radiology residency program (soon to get accreditation by the European Union). Students pending doctorate thesis at LUHS (Lithuanian University of Health Sciences) constantly select three programmes of doctorate studies of Radiology. Radiology studies are being carried out in various courses and modules (Respiratory, Oncology and Hematology, Movement system , Neurosciences, etc.) for students of Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Odontology, Students of Oral hygiene, etc. In the period of 2002-2012 15 doctorate dissertations of neuroradiology, abdominal radiology, nuclear medicine, thoracal radiology themes were defended in the department of Radiology. Staff of the department prepared and released the first in Lithuania textbook of "Basics of Radiology" (2005), served updated release and expanded "Basics of Radiology Edition” (expected to be released in 2013), started to prepare the individual anatomical and pathological changes in the areas of educational-methodical radiology. Clinic employs 5 professors carrying out pedagogical work (A.Basevičius, S.Lukoševičius, E.Monastyreckienė , I.Kulakienė , R.Gleizniene), 17 doctors of medicine (including 4 associate professors) and 19 assistants. Each year, the staff of the department of Radiology prints over 40 research articles (with about 3-5 articles with the ISI coefficient) in Lithuanian and foreign scientific journals and presentes over 120 scientific reports in various local and foreign scientific meetings and events. Physicians of department of Radiology regularly participate in multidisciplinary patient discussions with various profiled departments of LUHS, such as departments of Oncology and Haematology, Surgery, Gastroenterology, Pathology and others.

New research works are in progress. New trends are being implemented in the department of Radiology: "Optimisation of investigation of early oncological diseases and disease spread evaluation by means of radiological methods ". Department of Radiology is a partner in various "hard" and “soft" research projects with various departments of LUHS: Cardiology, Pulmonology and Immunology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology-Hematology, Gastroenterology and etc.) and other private and public partners (UAB “Inta”, "Ortho Baltic”, LUHS Veterinary Academy, LSU, KTU, VGTU).

The department currently carries out 10 doctorates of Radiology, regarding problems of liver, pancreas, intestine, face, brain, blood vessels and other changes in state of the art research(?) by means of various radiological techniques. About 60 students are involved in the Circle of Radiology at Student Scientific Society (SSS) in which they prepare their first research papers. Staff of department of Radiology participate in numerous permanent commissions of Lithuanian Ministry of Health, perform board examinations, carry out other organizational-methodical work.

International partners

MATRA project is one of many similar projects, in which Department of Radiology is involved together with partners from abroad: Dutch Metrology and Technology Institute and partners, Sweden (Gothenburg, Uppsala and Stockholm), Denmark (Viborg), Latvia (Riga), Estonia (Tallinn, Tartu), France (Paris and Grenoble), Switzerland (Geneva) and other scientific partners of foreign radiology departments. Experienced physician radiologists of Department of Radiology regularly carry out training of physicians from Kazakhstan, and participating in the targeted scientific-clinical visits to Kazakhstan, this way sharing knowledge and helping to improve the practical, as well as medico-clinical research level of radiology. Such visits are conducted in Astana (Kazakhstan), in National Medical Holding database. Physicians of the department are members of various European and international radiological societies - ESR (General Radiology), ESNR (neuroradiology) ESGAR (abdominal radiology), Esure (urogenital radiology), AURE (University Radiologists), ESMRMB (magnetic resonance imaging ), EANM (Nuclear Medicine), ESTI (thoracic radiology), RSNA (North American radiologists) and others. Staff of department of Radiology are members of the Kaunas Society of Radiologists, which currently unites 121 member and form the base of the Society. Even 8 physician radiologists of department of Radiology are members of the council of Lithuanian Radiologists Association.